Microsoft wields job axe

Nadella: Shedding flab

Seattle, July 17 (Reuters): Microsoft Corp said on Thursday it would slash up to 18,000 jobs, or 14 per cent of its workforce, this year as it trims its newly acquired Nokia phone business and tries to transform into a cloud-computing and mobile-friendly software company.

The larger-than-expected cuts are the deepest in the company’s 39-year history and come five months into the tenure of chief executive Satya Nadella, who outlined plans for a “leaner” business in a public memo to employees last week.

“We will simplify the way we work to drive greater accountability, become more agile and move faster,” Nadella wrote to employees in a memo made public early Thursday.

“We plan to have fewer layers of management, both top down and sideways, to accelerate the flow of information and decision making.”

The size of the cuts was welcomed by Wall Street, which viewed Microsoft as bloated under previous CEO Steve Ballmer, topping 1,27,000 in headcount after absorbing Nokia earlier this year.

“This is about double what the Street was expecting,” said Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets.

“Nadella is clearing the decks for the new fiscal year. He is cleaning up part of the mess that Ballmer left.”

Microsoft shares jumped 3 per cent to $45.40 in early trading, reaching their highest since the technology stock boom of 2000.

About 12,500 of the layoffs will come from eliminating overlaps with the Nokia unit, which Microsoft acquired in April for $7.2 billion.

Microsoft did not say how many jobs would come from Nokia and how many from existing operations. The acquisition of Nokia’s handset business in April added 25,000 people to Microsoft’s payroll. The Nokia-related cuts were widely expected. Microsoft said when it struck the deal that it would cut $600 million per year in costs within 18 months of closing the acquisition.

India comfort

When asked about the impact of the restructuring on India, a Microsoft India spokesperson told PTI, “We have about 6,500 employees in India, which also includes employees from Nokia. The impact will be minimal. It will be very very small.”